Trump backs Florida's chief financial officer as successor to Gaetz in Congress

TALLAHASSEE, Florida — President-elect Donald Trump is throwing his support down Florida’s main financial serviceman arsenic his prime to win erstwhile Rep. Matt Gaetz successful Congress, a move that could summation unit connected Gov. Ron DeSantis to prime friends to nan president-elect for different posts.

Trump connected Monday said connected societal media that he would support Republican Jimmy Patronis for nan now-vacant northwest Florida legislature spot that Gaetz gave up during his truncated bid for lawyer general. Gaetz withdrew from information amid an outcry complete investigations into his conduct. The Department of Justice conducted its ain investigation arsenic portion of a activity trafficking probe and, according to Gaetz’s lawyers and DOJ officials, decided not to bring criminal charges.

Trump said that Patronis had “been a awesome friend to me,” moreover though Patronis did not endorse Trump successful this year’s statesmanlike title until aft DeSantis withdrew from nan primary.

“Should he determine to participate this Race, Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JIMMY, RUN!” Trump wrote connected Truth Social.

Patronis appeared fresh to return that advice. He put out his ain societal media post connected Monday day that said “Put maine to work, Mr. President! … I americium present to serve.”

Trump’s determination to backmost Patronis follows his nationalist support of authorities Sen. Randy Fine for nan legislature spot of different 1 of his picks successful a 2nd administration, Rep. Mike Waltz.

It comes astatine a cardinal moment. Elected officials willing successful moving successful nan typical predetermination to prime Gaetz’s successor are required connected Monday to taxable their resign-to-run letters if they want to clasp connected to their seats while campaigning. Two authorities legislators had already said they planned to jump into nan race, arsenic has 1 section elected official.

Patronis' determination to tally for Congress intends it would autumn to DeSantis to prime personification to capable his occupation until nan 2026 elections. State Sen. Joe Gruters, a long-time state of Trump who has fought pinch DeSantis, has already said he is moving for main financial officer. The mobility is whether DeSantis will capable nan occupation pinch personification who would beryllium capable to tally against Gruters successful 2 years.

Additionally, Lara Trump, Trump’s daughter-in-law, has expressed liking successful being appointed to nan Senate spot now held by Marco Rubio. Trump has nominated Rubio for caput of state, and it will beryllium up to DeSantis to determine who will clasp that spot until nan adjacent information of elections successful 2 years.

Patronis, whose family runs a celebrated edifice successful Panama City, has been nan state’s main financial officer, a statewide elected post, since being appointed to it successful 2017 by then-Gov. Rick Scott. Patronis, who had been a legislator, had been a beardown state to Scott going backmost to his first tally arsenic politician erstwhile Patronis supported him complete nan GOP campaigner backed by astir of Florida’s Republican establishment.

Patronis does not unrecorded successful Gaetz’s legislature district, but he is good known passim nan region.

This marks nan 2nd Florida legislature title that Trump has made his penchant known. Over nan play he put retired a societal media station urging Fine, nan authorities senator, to tally for nan legislature spot successful northeast Florida held by Waltz. Trump picked Waltz arsenic his nationalist information adviser.